Compare towns
Norwell vs Walpole vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Norwell | Walpole | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
26,388Highest |
13,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
41.4±2.1Highest 4% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$175,265±$23k 69% above MA |
| Norwell and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #80 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Walpole High | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.3Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.